THE Covid-19 infection rate in Dudley and Sandwell continues to fall, latest figures show.

Figures based on Public Health England data for the seven days to April 15 show the infection rate in Dudley stands at 25.5 cases per 100,000 people (82 cases recorded in total) – compared to a rate of 30.5 (98 cases) recorded in the seven days up to April 8.

Meanwhile in Sandwell it’s slightly higher but still falling.

The infection rate currently stands at 34.4 per 100,000 people (113 cases recorded in the seven days to April 15) compared to a rate of 43.2 per 100,000 people (142 cases) up to April 8.

Of the 315 local areas in England, 117 (37 per cent) have seen a rise in case rates, 186 (59 per cent) have seen a fall and 12 remain unchanged.

Luton has the highest rate in England, with 195 new cases recorded in the seven days to April 15 – the equivalent of 91.5 cases per 100,000 people.

This is up slightly from 84.5 cases per 100,000 in the seven days to April 8.